Tampa's cigar workers followed the direction of their own independent union, popularly known as La Resistencia, in the general strike of 1901.The major dispute in 1901 involved efforts of manufacturers to establish branch factories in Pensacola and Jacksonville. The union interpreted these moves as an attempt to maintain an open shop policy and struck to force a closing of these operations. Strike leadership was in Spanish and Cuban hands, but Italians were active in the ranks and in supplying street-corner oratory that helped to maintain worker solidarity. Appeals to the strike cause were effective in prompting numerous workers to leave Tampa and find employment elsewhere in an effort to send back support

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Funded in part by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Ephemeral Cities Project.